Golden State Ale
Uncommon Brewers

Golden State AleGolden State Ale
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From:
Uncommon Brewers
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 14.13%
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
96
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 26, 2018
Added:
Jul 26, 2008
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
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Ratings by emsroth:
Photo of emsroth
Reviewed by emsroth from New York

4.3/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
16 oz can. I love these cans.

App: Hazy golden with a light, frothy head. A touch of lace.

Smell: The wonderful smells of a belgian ale: white grape skin, apple, and pear. The hops are fruity and resinous with a touch of woodland forest in both taste and aroma.

Taste: Light pilsener malt with a honey sweetness. Woodland, herbal, floral, fruity, resinous hops in the middle. I am very impressed with the hop flavors in this beer. They are a blend of all the hop flavors (minus citrus) combined. Ends dry and sweet with some husk, chalky yeast, and higher alcohols. No notice of the poppy, but still delicious.

A medium-high level of tight, spritzy belgian-style carbonation. The can really holds it in. Medium body. Ends rather dry asking for more.
May 22, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.66 by Chasecrandell from New York

Oct 26, 2018
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
650ml bottle - so, a brew called 'Golden State Ale', made in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Ok, then. At least they used the word 'complemented' properly, I suppose.

This beer pours a clear, medium copper amber colour, with three fingers of puffy, rocky, and mildly fizzy ecru head, which leaves some decent layered and streaky lace around the glass as it slowly sinks out of sight.

It smells of grainy and bready cereal malt, some earthy nuttiness, gentle Belgian yeast, faint domestic citrus rind, and very subtle musty, herbal, and floral green hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy pale malt, oily bar-top nuts, a slightly estery yeastiness, ephemeral orange and lemon citrus peel, and more well-understated earthy, musty, and dead floral hoppiness.

The carbonation is average in its palate-satisfying frothiness, the body a solid middleweight, and generally smooth, with nothing really existing here that might cause any sort of problem. It finishes off-dry, the malt and nutty flavours presiding.

Overall - this comes across as a sort of weird bird, with the Belgian 'character' definitely restrained. I'm guessing that the 'nut' essence is the toasted poppy seeds, but I'm quite familiar with the latter, and honey, this ain't that. At any rate, a fairly benign offering, one which I wouldn't revisit, especially at the elevated US import price.
Oct 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.01 by heymikew from California

Sep 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.57 by MtOrion from Nebraska

Jun 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.56 by wethorseblanket from California

Dec 18, 2015
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

2.81/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A plain light beer. Yes, it's golden in the glass. Modest head. Odd flavor that makes no connection but the bartender says "poppy seeds." Thin on the malt. Virtually no aroma.

It's more of a California Common with an unfortunate edge of walnut shells? Butter pecan ice cream? Melba toast? Then the long bitter aftertaste takes over. A scratchy, nutty, off-kilter flavor. I can't see much reason for this. On tap at Rogue Ales restaurant in San Francisco. [review notes from Jan. 26, 2012 tasting]
Sep 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.61 by Latarnik from New Jersey

May 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.93 by AaronOp from California

Jan 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.72 by sjmad23 from California

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by MrIncognito from Virginia

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ItsYourBoyBlue from Washington

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.88 by Margie4986 from Virginia

Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by sebaastionb from Virginia

Aug 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by EgadBananas from Louisiana

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Liana from California

May 30, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by atrocity from Virginia

May 06, 2014
Photo of FickleBeast
Reviewed by FickleBeast from New Jersey

4.04/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy orange color with a giant billowing foamy head. Aroma is sweet, orange-like citrus.

First sip is sweet at first, with a surprisingly dry, tart finish. I get a lot of sweet citrus flavor, with a touch of phenolic yeast. Very refreshing.

All in all, a pretty solid beer that I'm enjoying. Maybe a tad simple, but I'd prefer it this way instead of being overwhelmed with spicy yeast and phenolic flavors.
May 03, 2014
Golden State Ale from Uncommon Brewers
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 96 ratings